Taking HHS to Federal Court in Defense of Religious Liberty

Taking HHS to Court

It is a tremendously important lawsuit. We filed suit today in federal court in St. Louis, Missouri on behalf of a St. Louis business owner and his company. Our argument is clear: the HHS mandate, which requires employers to purchase health insurance for their employees that includes coverage for contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs, violates the religious beliefs of our client.

You may recall that there have been several suits filed nationwide challenging the HHS mandate. But this is the first complaint filed on behalf of a private business owner. We represent Frank R. O'Brien and O'Brien Industrial Holdings, LLC (OIH) - a holding company based in St. Louis. O'Brien is chairman of OIH which operates a number of businesses that explore, mine, and process refractory and ceramic raw materials, with its products going to more than 40 countries. His companies employ nearly 100 people and this Catholic entrepreneur does not want to be forced, under penalty of law, to comply with a mandate that violates his deeply held religious beliefs.

We've assembled a highly skilled legal team that's working on this issue. The lawsuit, posted here, contends that the HHS mandate "imposes a substantial burden on Plaintiffs' free exercise of religion by coercing Plaintiffs to choose between conducting their business in accordance with their religious beliefs or paying substantial penalties to the government."

The White House claims its working on a solution, but there are reports that there's been no progress in getting this resolved. And, just yesterday, we told you that more and more Americans don't want this mandate, don't want the government telling them what to do. Americans understand religious liberty is at stake here.

That's exactly why we're in federal court in Missouri challenging this unconstitutional mandate. We will keep you posted on this very critical case.

Good fences may make good neighbors, but in countries like Pakistan where religious tensions are high, even a simple dispute can become an excuse for violence. Our international affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice’s (ECLJ) office in Pakistan, the Organization for Legal Aid (OLA),

The long-simmering battle between the federal government and the state of California’s lawless agenda has erupted as part of escalating conflict last week after the Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to strike down the state’s attempt to usurp federal authority and write its own immigration...

In January 2017, China’s new Administrative Law on Activities of Overseas Non-Governmental Organizations (“ONGOs”) went into effect, and it is impacting hundreds of international Christian groups that are sharing the gospel to the 1.6 billion people in China through medical, developmental, or...

Loopholes in President Obama’s signature legislative achievement have defrauded American taxpayers $3.5 Billion dollars in excess ObamaCare credits, and they can’t get it back. Reports indicate that the IRS paid a total of nearly $24 billion in ObamaCare subsidies in 2017. Of that figure, $5.8...

Last year shortly after the election, the ACLJ issued its Agenda for the Future . We urged the incoming administration to immediately repeal and replace ObamaCare with a focus on the advancement of a patient-centered, consumer-driven program that emphasizes choice and competition . Today, we renew...

President Trump just signed an Executive Order “to Promote Healthcare Choice and Competition.” This Executive Order allows small businesses to unite to purchase healthcare across state lines and avoid portions of ObamaCare’s onerous mandates and failing healthcare markets. The President has...

Today, the Trump Administration took definitive action in defense of religious liberty. The Departments of Health of Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury issued “ interim final rules ” that, if finalized, will reverse the unconstitutional and illegal HHS Mandate created by the Obama...

The ACLJ is an organization dedicated to the defense of constitutional liberties secured by law.

American Center for Law and Justice is a d/b/a for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism,
Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and
freedom of speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to engage legal,
legislative and cultural issues by implementing an effective strategy of advocacy, education
and litigation to ensure that those rights are protected under the law. The organization has
participated in numerous cases before the Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Federal
District Courts, and various state courts regarding freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
Your gift is very much appreciated and fully deductible as a charitable contribution. A copy
of our latest financial report may be obtained by writing to us at P.O. Box 90555, Washington,
DC 20090-0555.